Contents of Various Elements in the Organs of Seabirds Killed by an Oil Spill Around Tsushima Island, Japan.

MedLine Citation:

PMID:
23292103
Owner:
NLM
Status:
Publisher

Abstract/OtherAbstract:

Twenty nine oil-soaked birds were collected from around the Coast of Tsushima Island. The content of eight elements in the livers and kidneys from the birds were investigated. The high liver concentrations of vanadium and thallium were observed in the birds found dead than those died after their rescue with the statistical significance, while in the kidney titanium showed higher concentrations in the birds found dead with a statistical significance. A significant correlation (r=0.695, P<0.01) was observed only for the molybdenum content between the kidneys and the livers from the birds found dead. Although the controls of the eight elements of birds investigated in the present study remain unexplained, some of lower concentration in rescued birds can be blamed on a decrease in food intake of birds. The relation between oil contamination and concentration of elements need to be further explored.